If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

User Info Menu

Join Date

Aug 2008

Location

Ohio

Posts

4,769

Pittsburgh Steelers Todd Haley Far Removed From Reality

The Pittsburgh Steelers rank near the bottom of the basement when it comes to the offensive side of the football. Yet somehow offensive coordinator Todd Haley is so dang smart, such a mastermind, that none of us can quite comprehend that the Steelers offense is ‘on the cusp of being pretty good,’ which is something he told reporters on Halloween. Sounds more like a trick (load of crap) instead of a bunch of treats (points & wins).

I went after Mike Tomlin earlier in the week after his press conference when he answered a question about the poor clock management at the end of Sunday’s loss against the Raiders. Tomlin, in not so many words, or rather not so bluntly, pretty much admitted to not having any confidence and faith in this team. Talk to Todd Haley, however, and he has such a different perspective of how the team is doing and where they are headed. In fact, you would think that the Steelers are hard on luck more than they are hard up for good talent and coaching.

I feel like we’re on the cusp of being pretty good. We’ve had a lot of moving parts — not that anybody else hasn’t — but we’ve had to overcome and mix and match a little bit but I do feel like we’re close to playing the way we have to play for us to win on a weekly basis.
Merriam-Webster defines ‘cusp’ as ‘a point of transition’ as well as ‘a fixed point on a mathematical curve at which a point tracing the curve would exactly reverse its direction of motion.’ In a way, Haley is right in the sense that the Steelers are moving in the wrong direction – poor offense – and need to transition or reverse it’s current direction. But I believe Haley doesn’t think cusp means what it really means – especially in the context of his statements. What Haley really means is that the offense is good already and just needs a minor tweak here and there – vuala! the offense will be as right as rain. That is so far from the truth, I’m beginning to question the sanity of our beloved OC. Unfortunately, for Haley and the rest of Steeler Nation, the team is in a state of transition. It’s just transition that’s in the form of years, not weeks.

Haley does not seem to mind slow starts either. He does not seem to care when the points happen, just as long as they have more than the other team when the clock reaches :00. The Steelers have only scored 13 first quarter points all season. Let’s say the Steelers possess the ball only twice of each first quarter from the last seven games. That is an efficiency of only 21% (3 of 14). I guess that’s not a terrible stat (sure as hell not good either), but when you look at the fact that they’ve been outscored a whopping 56-13 in the first quarter, slow starts seem to matter a bit more. Sure the offense picks up in the second half – when the ball is in the hands of Big Ben and the no huddle – but one can’t expect to score more than 14 points in a single quarter every game.

Look, the bottom line here is that these recent comments to reports mean that Haley is either fooling himself, is really stupid and can’t comprehend math, or is just trying to play down how bad the offense is so he doesn’t get fired. Come on, Dad! Just give me one more shot! I’ll get it right the next time, I promise! It’s probably a combination of all three.

The reality is that this offense, like the rest of the team, is mediocre. They aren’t good. They aren’t terrible – though there’s a sprinkling of ‘bad’ here and there. The QB is elite, but is dragged down (quite literally) due to the bad offensive line. The running backs are mediocre, the receivers are average. What planet does one live on where a 2-5 record, 28th in points scored, 23rd in total yards, and 30th in the rush equates to a team being on the verge of ‘good.’ Please, Todd, tell us all in Steeler Nation what is it that puts this team on the ‘cusp’? Better be quick, I think someone is on the cusp of being fired…. or buying a straight jacket.

User Info Menu

Join Date

Dec 2008

Location

Inside Your Head

Posts

10,983

Call me crazy, but I kinda agree with Haley. Granted he puts out some screwed up formations and makes some predictable calls, but it doesn't seem like the team is as far from being decent as everyone seems to think.

User Info Menu

Join Date

May 2008

Location

Atlanta

Posts

3,305

This offense is bad and the only cusp they are on is trying not to fall into the abyss.

With that said, Haley takes a lot of heat that isn't necessarily his fault. Last week Whimper was a starter due to injury and C Wallace, who is so horrible he hasn't even been dressing, played both Guard and Tackle during the game. Lombardi could not overcome this line and its injuries. And Haley didn't draft these guys. And Ben still won't throw it away even when he has wide open backs coming out of the back field.

User Info Menu

Join Date

Dec 2008

Location

Inside Your Head

Posts

10,983

Originally Posted by Ghost

This offense is bad and the only cusp they are on is trying not to fall into the abyss.

With that said, Haley takes a lot of heat that isn't necessarily his fault. Last week Whimper was a starter due to injury and C Wallace, who is so horrible he hasn't even been dressing, played both Guard and Tackle during the game. Lombardi could not overcome this line and its injuries. And Haley didn't draft these guys. And Ben still won't throw it away even when he has wide open backs coming out of the back field.

Haley also wasn't helping the OLine at all going with a jumbo package with Cotchery as the lone WR, virtually guaranteeing 10 guys in the box. WTF was up with that? That might go down as the worst formation in the history of the game imho.

On the bright side, that's a formation no one in their right mind would ever expect.

User Info Menu

Join Date

May 2008

Posts

3,950

Originally Posted by flippy

Call me crazy, but I kinda agree with Haley. Granted he puts out some screwed up formations and makes some predictable calls, but it doesn't seem like the team is as far from being decent as everyone seems to think.

I do too. I thought the Adams benching (1), along with Bell becoming the back we think he is (2), and Miller rounding into playing shape (both for pass and RUN, 3) and Decastro getting his sea legs as a pro (4) would catapult us. Sadly, Decastro got hurt again and isn't playing this week!

The first Q scoring IS glaring; there is no doubt about that. But like you flip, I definitely can see our offense start dictating a lot more.

User Info Menu

Join Date

Sep 2013

Posts

218

Originally Posted by Shoe

I do too. I thought the Adams benching (1), along with Bell becoming the back we think he is (2), and Miller rounding into playing shape (both for pass and RUN, 3) and Decastro getting his sea legs as a pro (4) would catapult us. Sadly, Decastro got hurt again and isn't playing this week!

The first Q scoring IS glaring; there is no doubt about that. But like you flip, I definitely can see our offense start dictating a lot more.